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usual

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word usual distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of usual are accustomed, customary, habitual, and wonted. While all these words mean "familiar through frequent or regular repetition," usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

How is accustomed related to other words for usual?

Accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

In what contexts can customary take the place of usual?

The words customary and usual are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

When could habitual be used to replace usual?

Although the words habitual and usual have much in common, habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

When is wonted a more appropriate choice than usual?

The words wonted and usual can be used in similar contexts, but wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of usual
Adjective
Carlson's interview and opposition to intervention has found support beyond his usual base. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025 Ron Washington was not in his usual aisle seat on the top step of the third-base dugout. Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
Noun
Ebonē Colbert ordered her usual on her weekly trip to Wendy's with her son: a kid’s meal with a plain cheeseburger for him and a Dave’s Single, a burger topped with lettuce and tomato, for herself. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 26 Aug. 2022 On the first day back, Evans ordered his usual: a single cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 See All Example Sentences for usual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for usual
Adjective
  • The report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute comes against the backdrop of China's military buildup—both conventional and nuclear.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
  • The final decade of the 20th Century was the beginning of the SUV boom, with automakers across the spectrum expanding their lineups to include machines that blended the height and four-wheel-drive capability of pickups with the roomy cabins and comfortable rides of conventional cars.
    Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • This means that some particles will decay in the normal world while their counterparts in the mirror would not.
    Zack Savitsky, Wired News, 22 June 2025
  • On Tuesdays, theater tickets at Cinemark Century Folsom 7 cost $5.50, compared to the normal ticket price of $10.99.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Some have come out of nowhere, others have taken months to catch on, and all of them could become ubiquitous in the blink of a TikTok clip.
    Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 18 June 2025
  • A lot can happen in 20-plus years: careers can rise and fall, empires can crumble under their own weight, cult fan favorites can give birth to money-minting franchises, a minor horror subgenre can suddenly become ubiquitous.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Alila Napa Valley goes beyond the ordinary by offering unforgettable experiences designed to captivate modern travelers, especially Xennials.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The couple have often walked red carpets together, so it certainly wouldn’t be considered out of the ordinary for the 37-year-old to walk the Golden Globes red carpet alongside her beau as his plus-one.
    Sam Reed, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There is of course a social and political undercurrent to the movie, as is customary for Magliano, going against the grain and reclaiming time to pause and reflect.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • Newsom has said he wasn't consulted before Trump decided to take control of the Guard, as is customary.
    Larry Kaplow, NPR, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Still, experts widely agree that the attack shares several characteristics typical of ransomware events, including a full system shutdown, containment procedures and prolonged disruption.
    Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • As is typical, the children were shot from behind, but that could change, as Platell noted.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Pritzker and Emanuel are nationally familiar names.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • The skills that prepare a child to read begin developing in utero, as a baby listens to the familiar voices around them and begins to develop connections between sounds and the meanings of words in their home language.
    Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Football Association rules dictate that players under the age of 18 cannot sign contracts longer than three years.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 18 June 2025
  • The proposal added that a penalty would be assessed on any offensive player who violated the rule.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Usual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/usual. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

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